Most young Australians are opting for food delivery apps such as Uber Eats and other take away options rather than spending the time to do a regular grocery shop and cook up a good meal. This is mainly due to being time poor, and they are therefore simply not able to get around to turning groceries into nutritious meals. Many are also aware of all the waste involved with buying groceries and would rather put their money toward everyday bills.
Australian household budgets are tighter than ever, we understand here at Gourmet Meals, so we have come up with a few simple suggestions and tips to make it easier to save time and money on nutritious meals as well as avoiding food wastage:
Planning
Meal planning is one of the most effective ways to help you save time and money. It makes the grocery shop less stressful and will get you in and out in no time. You can also use this time to set nutrition goals and stick to any dietary requirements for a better, healthier you.
Stocktake
First start the process with a stocktake of what’s in the fridge, freezer and pantry cupboards. If you are looking to save more money, search online for recipes using the ingredients you already have. This way you will only need to add a few fresh ingredients.
Write a meal plan
This will help you avoid impulse buys at the supermarket and will save on budget and time. First, think of how long you are hoping for the groceries to last, work out how many days and how many meals need to be prepared. Another great tip is to think about how you can use leftovers during your meal planning. Take a look through here for some ideas on how to do this Love Food Hate Waste.
Keep in mind there are plenty of meal planning apps to get the meal planning under control in no time!
Plan for portions
Often no thought goes into the portions before heading out to the supermarket. Portion planning will help reduce food wastage, ensure great variety and keep you on track with a balanced diet. There are guides available as portion sizes vary for men, women and age groups. For one standard meal Love Food Hate Waste recommends these standard sizes per person per meal:
- 75-100 grams of uncooked dried pasta
- 130 grams of uncooked fresh pasta
- 75 grams of rice
- 65-100 grams of chicken or beef
- 75 grams or a half cup of vegetables
Check out the Australian Government's Eat for Health website for portion sizes based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Make a shopping list
Either write or type your list of items with quantities before hitting the shops and you’re on your way to saving money and time.
Shop Smart
Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
- Avoid shopping when you are hungry
- Check all “use by dates” and aim for the longest
- Avoid impulse buys simply by shopping online with your shopping list
- Think before you grab the ‘two for one' or discounted rates for ‘two of the same items’ – do you really need the two. It’s only a great deal if you will use the food
- Bulk buying can save time and money, however, you need to consider if you have space and the right storage solution to avoid the food from spoiling
Have frozen meals options
Last but not least, make sure you plan for the times when you haven’t had a chance to get to the supermarket or time to cook, by either ordering Gourmet Meals frozen meals online or finding a stocklist near you. You will always have something healthy and home-style on hand which can be ready to eat in minutes.
Gourmet Meals are prepared on the Gold Coast in Queensland and are made from mostly locally sourced ingredients. Take a look at our online menu or check out your nearest stocklist today.
Tags: Food Wastage, How To Prevent Food Wastage, Healthy Frozen Meals Delivered, Meal Plan Advice
